Disk player with magazine device

ABSTRACT

A disk playback device has a magazine for storing a plurality of carriages, each capable of carrying a disk. The magazine moves vertically relative to a chassis to align a playback position with a selected one of the carriages. A selected carriage is moved out the magazine and into the playback position for playing. Carriages selected for playback are in contact with adjacent carriages which tend to shift out of the magazine along with selected carriage. To prevent this unwanted shifting and retain a very compact configuration, the present invention provides a pair of parallel restrainers. The restrainers are mounted vertically on the chassis and fit into notches on the carriages stored in the magazine. A gap between the restrainers is positioned so that when the selected carriage is aligned with the playback position, the selected carriage is free to move into the playback position. The engagements between the notches of the adjacent carriages, however, prevent them from shifting along with the selected carriage. The restrainer is mounted behind the edges of the carriages closest to the playback position and therefor does not take up any room between the playback position and the magazine. Therefore, a high degree of compactness can be achieved.

This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 08/625,773,filed Mar. 29, 1996, now abandoned, which application was a continuationof application Ser. No. 08/206,510, filed Mar. 4, 1994, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for playing back recorded mediaand specifically to devices for changing compact disks.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,001 discloses a disk-changer device having a stockercapable of holding multiple disks. The device described includescarriages each capable of holding a disk. The stocker is capable ofholding multiple carriages. The stocker is provided with means formoving a selected disk from a stored position in the stocker to aplayback position and back to the stored position. In this device, thestocker is moved vertically in order to align the selected disk with theplayback position. The carriage holding the selected disk is pulled outof the stocker and moved to the playback position. The non-selecteddisks remain behind in respective positions in the stocker.

Adjacent carriages, which may be in contact with the carriage holdingthe selected disk, may tend to move out of their respective storagepositions when the selected disk is moved to the playback position. Toprevent this, a plate spring in the stocker is used to retain theadjacent non-selected carriages. The plate spring and the carriage areelastically engaged. However, there are cases when the engagementbetween the plate spring and the carriage is rendered ineffective bysudden movement of a chassis of the device, or the like.

To prevent a non-selected carriage from moving out of the stocker, arigid retaining device could be used. For example, a lock-plate fixed onthe chassis in front of the pulling-out direction of the carriage couldbe provided. By incorporating a slot in an appropriate position on thelock plate, it is possible to permit only the selected carriage to movefrom the stocker by passing through this slot. However, a lock-platewould limit the compactness of the changer since it would have to bepositioned between the stocker and the playback position, narrowing thedistance between the two. In addition, certain changers improvecompactness by not completely withdrawing the disk from the stockerduring playback. Thus, the disk being played overlaps disks in thestocker. Such a system is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open publicationnumber 62-212964. In such a system, space would be difficult to allocatefor a lock-plate positioned between the stocker and the playbackposition.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk-changerdevice which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk-changerwhich is highly compact.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a diskchanger that operates reliably.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a disk playback devicehaving a magazine for storing a plurality of carriages, each capable ofcarrying a disk. The magazine moves vertically relative to a chassis toalign a playback position with a selected one of the carriages. Aselected carriage is moved out the magazine and into the playbackposition for playing. Carriages selected for playback are in contactwith adjacent carriages which tend to shift out of the magazine alongwith selected carriage. To prevent this unwanted shifting and retain avery compact configuration, the present invention provides a pair ofparallel restrainers. The restrainers are mounted vertically on thechassis and fit into notches on the carriages stored in the magazine. Agap between the restrainers is positioned so that when the selectedcarriage is aligned with the playback position, the selected carriage isfree to move into the playback position. The engagements between thenotches of the adjacent carriages, however, prevent them from shiftingalong with the selected carriage. The restrainer is mounted behind theedges of the carriages closest to the playback position and therefordoes not take up any room between the playback position and themagazine. Therefore, a high degree of compactness can be achieved.

According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided adevice for playing back disks comprising: a magazine, a plurality ofcarriages in the magazine, each of the carriages having means forsupporting a disk in fixed relation to itself, each of the disks havinga center, the magazine having means for holding the carriagessubstantially parallel with the disks carried on the carriagessubstantially parallel and the centers of the disks being concentric,means for moving a selected one the carriages between a playbackposition outside the magazine and a storage position inside themagazine, means for moving the magazine relative to the playbackposition in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the disks toselectably align a selected one of the carriages in the magazine withthe playback position, means for preventing non-aligned ones of thecarriages from shifting when the selected one is aligned with theplayback position by a movement of the selected one of the carriagesrelative to the playback position, and means, on the carriages, forengaging the longitudinal member.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there isprovided a device for playing back disks comprising: a plurality ofcarriages, each of the plurality of carriages having means for holding adisk in fixed relation thereto, each of the carriages having a firstalignment member in an edge thereof, a chassis having a playbackposition, fixed to the chassis, a second alignment member fixed to thechassis engaging the first alignment members, the first alignment memberand the second alignment member including means for permitting movementof the magazine in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of the disks,means for permitting a selected one of the carriages to move past thesecond alignment member between the magazine and the playback position,and the means for permitting including means for restraining others ofthe carriages from moving from the magazine.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TILE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of an embodiment of a disk player ofthe present invention showing a tray and carriage in an ejectionposition.

FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing thetray and carriage in a load position.

FIG. 3 is a simplified plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing thetray and carriage in a playback position.

FIG. 4 is a simplified plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing thetray and carriage in a store position.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main chassis of theembodiment of the disk player of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a clamping mechanism and a topplate of the main chassis of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a disk reader assembly of theembodiment of the disk player of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a view of a cross section of a rubber damper in the diskreader assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9A is a plan view of a carriage of the disk player of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9B is a side view of the carriage of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carriage of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a magazine of the disk playerof FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a cam plate assembly of thedisk player of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the tray of the disk playerof FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a transport mechanism, on aright side plate of the main chassis of FIG. 5, for transporting thetray, carriages, and separating the carriages in the magazine.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a linear guide on a left sideplate of the main chassis shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a vertical drive mechanism,on a bottom plate of the main chassis of FIG. 5, for moving the magazineand the disk reader assembly.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a tray moving mechanism of the transportmechanism of FIG. 14 shown in the ejection position.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the tray moving mechanism of FIG. 17 shown inthe load position.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the tray moving mechanism of FIG. 17 shown inthe playback position.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the tray moving mechanism in the storeposition.

FIG. 21 is a side view of a carriage moving mechanism of the transportmechanism of FIG. 14 shown in the ejection position.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the carriage moving mechanism of FIG. 21 shownin the load position.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the carriage moving mechanism of FIG. 21 shownin the playback position.

FIG. 24 is a side view of the carriage moving mechanism of FIG. 21 shownin the store position.

FIG. 25 is a side view of a lifter mechanism, of the transport mechanismof FIG. 14, shown in the ejection position.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the lifter mechanism of FIG. 25 shown in theload position.

FIG. 27 is a side view of the lifter mechanism of FIG. 25 shown in theplayback position.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the lifter mechanism of FIG. 25 shown in thestore position.

FIG. 29 is a plan view of the vertical transport mechanism of FIG. 16shown in a magazine transport mode to place the magazine in a topposition.

FIG. 30 is a side of the magazine and cam plate assembly showing themagazine in the top position.

FIG. 31 is a plan view of the vertical transport mechanism of FIG. 16shown in a magazine transport mode for placing the magazine a bottomposition.

FIG. 32 is a side of the magazine and cam plate assembly showing themagazine in the bottom position.

FIG. 33 is a plan view of the vertical transport mechanism of FIG. 16shown in a disk reader assembly positioning mode with the disk readerassembly in a lowered position.

FIG. 34 is side view of the disk reader assembly in the loweredposition.

FIG. 35 is a plan view of the vertical transport mechanism of FIG. 16shown in a disk reader assembly positioning mode with the disk readerassembly in a raised position.

FIG. 36 is a side view of the disk reader assembly in the raisedposition.

FIG. 37 is a side view, partially in cross section, of a magazine and alifter plate of the lifter mechanism of FIG. 25 shown in the playbackposition.

FIG. 38 is a side view of a lifter plate of the lifter mechanism of FIG.25 shown in the store position.

FIG. 39 is a side view of a cross section of the disk player of FIG. 1showing a disk, in the playback position, with the disk reader and themagazine filled with disks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a disk player 1 of the presentinvention is shown having a tray 20 moved to an ejection positionoutside disk player 1. A magazine 50 has seven storage positions (notshown) for holding a base carriage 58 and six standard carriages 59 (oneof which is shown) upon which disks 201' are carried. The base carriage58 is removed from a base (lowest), or seventh position in the magazine50 and is held in the tray 20 at the ejection position, extending outfrom disk player 1, for the acceptance or removal of a disk.

The base carriage 58 has first and second concentric circular recesses,162 and 166, for the acceptance of 12 cm and 8 cm compact disksrespectively. A clearance notch 161 extends inward from the perimeter ofbase carriage 58, ending in a center arc 160. The base carriage 58 isidentical to the standard carriages 59 with the exception that thestandard carriages 59 lack the second circular recess 166. For thepurpose of illustration, the operation of the disk player 1 is describedwith the base carriage 58 identified as a selected carriage beingoperated upon, however, it is understood that the operations apply toall the carriages.

The tray 20 has two flanges 76 which are flush with the first circularrecess 162 when the base carriage 58 is held by the tray 20. The flanges76 provide additional support for a 12 cm disk placed in the basecarriage 58. An optical disk reader assembly 200, includes an opticalpick-up 203 and a turntable 202, situated in front of the magazine 50.

Referring to FIG. 2, the tray 20 is shown at a load position. A 12 cmdisk 201 is disposed in the base carriage 58 in preparation for loadingonto the disk reader assembly 200.

Referring now also to FIG. 3, the base carriage 58 is shown at aplayback position where a center of the disk 201 is aligned with theaxis of the turntable 202. A shuttle 28, shown in dashed line, engagesthe base carriage 58. The shuttle 28 is actuated by a transportmechanism (not shown) to move the base carriage 58 from the loadposition of FIG. 2 to the playback position of FIG. 3. The disk 201 isread by the optical pick-up 203 scanning a recording surface of the disk201 via the clearance notch 161 as disk 201 is rotated by the turntable202.

At the playback position in FIG. 3, a portion of the disk 201 overlapsremaining disks 201' stored in the magazine 50. In this position, disk201 is rotated while it remains partially within the magazine 50. Thisarrangement permits the disk player 1 to be constructed in a compactmanner wherein the disk 201 is displaced a minimum distance from aposition concentric with the disks 201'. Placement of the turntable 202just outside an outer radius of the stored disk 201' and the movement ofthe optical pick-up 203 parallel to a path of the transport mechanismallows the structure of the disk player 1 to be further reduced in size.The disk 201 is stored in the magazine 50 by the shuttle 28 moving thebase carriage 58 into the magazine 50. The overlap feature described isalso realizable in an alternate embodiment where the magazine 50 isdisposed between the ejection and load positions. Such an embodiment isalso considered to be within the scope and spirit of the presentinvention.

The feature of having both load and playback positions permits a furtherreduction in the size of the disk player 1. If the disk player 1 of FIG.3 were to read the disk 201 in the load position, the movement of theoptical pick-up 203 would require extension of a carriage beyond thebounds shown in FIG. 3. This extension would be required for clearanceof the optical pick-up 203 when reading an outer perimeter of the diskin the load position. A pickup transport mechanism and a body of thepickup would extend out beyond an optical lens of the pickup. Therefore,additional clearance in the base carriage 58 would be necessitated.Thus, the base carriage 58 and tray 20 would be extended. In addition torequiring a larger chassis, such an extension presents an additionalproblem in that the tray 20 must extend further from the chassis when inthe ejection position. Thus, the use of both the load position and theplayback position shortens the length of the tray 20 and base carriage58. The illustrated embodiment incorporates both the features of havingthe overlapping playback position and the load position, however,embodiments having a single one of either of these features arerealizable. Additionally, an embodiment having a load position and nomagazine is also realizable and advantageous in that the tray isshortened. Such embodiments are viewed as being within the spirit of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the disk player 1 is shown with all carriagesstored in the magazine 50 wherein the top one of carriages 59 isrepresentative of the positioning of all carriages 58 and 59 in themagazine 50. Once all the standard carriages 59, disks 201', and basecarriage 58 are stored in the magazine 50, the magazine 50 is movable ina direction perpendicular to recorded surfaces of the stored disks, 201and 201', since there is no longer an overlap. Movement of the magazine50 permits a selected disk therein to be aligned with a plane of thetray 20 for transport to the playback, load, and ejection positions.

Referring to FIG. 5, a main chassis 2 of the disk player includes a basechassis 10 with a bottom plate 11. Right and left side plates, 82 and84, respectively, are fixed to bottom plate 11 by screws or other formsof fasteners (not shown). A top plate 30 is similarly fastened to avertical extension 10' of the base chassis 10 and the right and leftside plates, 82 and 84. The right and left side plates, 82 and 84, havevertical guide slots, 70 and 71, which function in conjunction with amagazine transport mechanism described below.

Referring now also to FIG. 6, the top plate 30 incorporates a clampassembly 190 which clamps the disks to the turntable 202.

Referring to FIG. 7, an exploded view of the disk reader assembly 200shows the optical pick-up 203 and turntable 202 which attach to amounting frame 182. The mounting frame 182 is flexibly supported byrubber dampers 183 within a support frame comprised of rods 184 and apair of end plates 180. Corner brackets 187 are attached to the supportframe and have pivot pins 188 which engage a pivot bracket 181. Thesupport frame is pivoted to clamp a disk between the turntable 202 andthe clamp assembly 190 of the top plate 30 shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 8, an enlarged cross section of one of the rubberdampers 183 is shown connecting the mounting frame 182 to one of the endplates 180. A screw 185 and washer (not numbered) attach a centerportion of the rubber damper 183 to the mounting frame 182. An annularinwardly directed flange of the rubber damper 183 is engaged within aflared lip 171 of an aperture 194 in the end plate 180. The aperture 194has a sufficient diameter to provide clearance for a head of the screw185. The rubber damper 183 has a cone shaped structure providingsufficient flexibility to function as a flexible suspension forisolating vibrations from the optical pick-up 203 and turntable 202. Itis clear that alternative suspensions means, including springs,dashpots, and resilient plastics for example, are realizable by thoseskilled in the art, having viewed this disclosure, without departingfrom the spirit of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 10, the base carriage 58 shown isalso representative of the standard carriages 59 except as noted herein.The base carriage 58 has the clearance notch 161 and center arc 160,discussed above, to provide access by the optical pick-up 203 andturntable 202 to the recording surface of a disk carried on the basecarriage 58. The first and second circular recesses, 162 and 166,position disks on the base carriage 58 for proper alignment with theturntable 202 in the playback position shown in FIG. 3. The secondcircular recess 166 results in a surface protrusion 168 extending from alower surface of the base carriage 58 as shown in FIG. 9B. The surfaceprotrusion 168 is, however, absent in the standard carriages 59 which donot have the second circular recess 166. A shuttle engagement notch 163in a right side of the base carriage 58 permits engagement by a shuttlearm 69 on the shuttle 28 (shown in FIGS. 1-4) to move base carriage 58between its load, playback and store positions. A detent notch 164 onthe right side of the base carriage 58 is engaged by a spring (notshown) when the base carriage 58 is stored in the magazine 50. Awedge-shaped protrusion 167 extends from the right side of the basecarriage 58. Wedge-shaped protrusion 167 is engaged by a liftingmechanism (not shown), as is described below. Rectangular recesses 165in a lower surface of the carriages 58 and 59 accept support prongslocated within the magazine 50.

Guide ridges 55 extend upward from a top surface of all carriages 58 and59. Guide grooves (not shown) are formed in the lower surfaces allcarriages 58 and 59. The guide ridge 55 on the upper surface of eachstandard carriage 59 engages the guide groove in the lower surface ofthe next higher standard carriage 59 when the standard carriages arestacked in the magazine 50. Engagement between the guide ridges 55 andtheir mating guide grooves guide the standard carriages 59, as they aretransported to and from the magazine 50.

Base carriage 58 has the same guide grooves as do standard carriages 59.However, the guide grooves in base carriage 58 are engaged by anexternal element, rather than by guide ridges in adjacent carriages, aswill be explained below.

Referring to FIG. 11, an exploded view of the magazine 50 and the baseand standard carriages, 58 and 59, shows the standard carriages 59stacked in the top six positions and the base carriage 58 in the bottom,or seventh position. A magazine chassis 50' has a pair of guide rails 53mounted on a base surface which serve to guide and support the basecarriage 58 as it is transported to and from the magazine 50. A pair ofpronged racks 51 have support prongs for accepting the base and standardcarriages, 58 and 59. The support prongs couple into the rectangularrecesses 165 (FIGS. 9A and 10) in the carriages, 58 and 59, to supportthe standard carriages 59 when a selected carriage, 58 or 59, is removedfrom beneath the remaining standard carriages 59. The standard carriages59 above a selected carriage are pivoted upon the support prongs in anupward direction by the lifting mechanism described below. Embodimentsof the present invention include constructions wherein the carriages, 58and 59, rest upon each other or are supported by the support prongs whennot in a lifted state. It is further realized that other embodiments ofthe present invention could provide for slot recesses in the magazine 50for accepting protrusions from the carriages, 58 and 59, in order topivotally support the carriages, 58 and 59.

A detent spring member 54 mounts on a back panel of the magazine chassis50'. Spring fingers on detent spring member 54 engage the detent notches164 of the carriages, 58 and 59, to retain them within the magazine 50.Upper and lower guide pins, 83 and 88, fixed to sides of the magazine50, travel in the vertical guides slots, 70 and 71, of the right andleft side plates, 82 and 84, of the main chassis shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now also to FIG. 12, the magazine 50 sits within a cam plateassembly 13'. Cam plate assembly 13' includes cam plates 14 attached toa cam plate chassis 13. The lower guide pins 88 slide in stepped camslots 15 to raise and lower the magazine 50 as the cam plate assembly13' is moved forward and backward. The cam plate chassis 13 has a pairof parallel guide pin slots 18 which accept guide pins 12 (shown in FIG.16) in the bottom plate 11 of the main chassis to ensure parallelmovement. The cam plate chassis 13 also has a rack 17 (partially hiddenin FIG. 12) which engages a vertical drive assembly described below.

Referring to FIG. 13, the tray 20 has a tray plate 21 fixed to the leftand right side members, 35 and 34, which are connected by a U-shapedbridge 33. The left and right side members, 34 and 35, have left andright rails, 37 and 37'. The right rail 37' has a rack (not shown) on alower surface which engages the transport mechanism described below. Apair of support plates 78 hold the tray plate 21 and extend into anopening defined by the tray plate 21 to support the carriages, 58 and 59(not shown in FIG. 13), transported on the tray 20. A shuttle lock lever60 is rotatably attached to the right side member 34 by a pin 77.Shuttle lock lever 60 locks the shuttle arm 69 once any one of thecarriages, 58 and 59, is in the tray 20. This fixes the carriage 59relative to the tray while the tray 20 transports the carriage 59between the ejection and load positions.

Referring to FIG. 14, the right side plate 82 of the main chassis hasfirst and second right rail support members, 40 and 46, which fittogether to form a C-shaped slot for accepting the right rail 37' (FIG.13) of the tray 20.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the left side plate 84 of the main chassis hasaffixed thereto first and second left rail support members, 41 and 48,which form a C-shaped slot for the left rail 37 (FIG. 13) of the tray20. The tray 20 is thus slidably held in the main chassis with the leftand right rails, 37 and 37', constrained for linear motion.

Referring again to FIG. 14, the transport mechanism includes a motor230, mounted to the right side plate 82. The torque output of motor 230is coupled by a pulley 27 and a belt 31 to a first speed reduction gear26 mounted on a shaft 94. A second speed reduction gear 29 engages thefirst speed reduction gear 26 and the rack of the right rail 37' todrive the tray 20 forward and backward. A drive gear 39 is integrallyformed on the second speed reduction gear 29. The drive gear 39 passesthrough an aperture 95 to drive a lifter gear 42 of a lifter mechanism.The lifter mechanism separates adjacent higher ones of the carriages, 58and 59 to provide clearance above a disk to be rotated and read.

The lifter mechanism has a lifter plate 43 with a lifter plate pin 45.Lifter plate pin 45 engages a lifter cam slot 72 on the lifter gear 42(better seen in FIGS. 25-28). The lifter plate 43 is slidably supportedby slots, 73 and 74, and support pins, 80 and 81, to permit forward andbackward motion of the lifter plate 43 guided by lifter cam slot 72.

Referring momentarily to FIG. 37, the lifter plate 43 has twoprotrusions, a carriage lifter 140 which is circular, and a carriagestopper 141 which has an inclined surface. The carriage lifter 140engages the wedge shaped protrusion 167 of the next higher one of thecarriages 59 above the selected carriage 59 in the magazine 50 and liftsthe next higher one carriage 59 to provide clearance above the selectedcarriage 59 so that the selected carriage 59 may be moved partly out ofthe magazine 50, and may be rotated and read in that position.Simultaneously, the carriage stopper 141 engages the first of thecarriages, 58 and 59, below the selected carriage 59. The carriagestopper 141 functions as a keeper to hold the first of the carriagesbelow the selected carriage, and all lower carriages, in the magazine 50while the selected carriage moved outward.

The right side plate 82 also has affixed thereto carriage restrainers,86 and 87, which are spaced apart to define a slot 89. The carriagerestrainers 86, 87 fit into the shuttle engagement notches 163 of thecarriages 58, 59 above and below the slot 89. The shuttle engagementnotches 163 are located between forward edges 300 and rear edges 301 ofcarriages 58, 59. The carriage aligned with the slot 89, however, isfree to move in and out of the slot 89. The slot 89 is sufficientlynarrow to permit only one carriage to pass through at a time. Therefore,the magazine 50 must be positioned to align the slot 89 with theselected carriage to permit the selected carriage to be moved outward tothe playback or ejection positions. Thus, the carriage restrainers 86,87 retain the non-selected carriages when the selected carriage is movedto the playback or ejection positions forward edge 300 leading and rearedge 301 trailing the selected carriage. The process is reversed forreplacing the selected carriage into the magazine 50.

The carriage restrainers 86, 87 are arranged perpendicularly to thecarriages 58, 59. When the magazine 50 moves up and down, carriagerestrainers 86, 87 remain within the shuttle engagement notches 163 ofthe carriages 58, 59. This arrangement permits the carriages 58, 59 tobe moved vertically with the magazine 50 without being hindered by thecarriage restrainers 86, 87. The carriage restrainers 86, 87 arepositioned between the edges of the carriages 58, 59 closest to theplayback position. Thus, no additional space between the playbackposition and the carriages 58, 59 is required.

Referring now to FIG. 39, the lifter mechanism separates the carriages,58 and 59, to provide sufficient clearance for the selected disk to beraised clear of a supporting carriage by the turntable 202. As will beexplained, turntable 202 is hinged into position against the surface ofa disk. Alternate embodiments could include mechanisms for linearlylifting the carriages, 58 and 59, and mechanisms for depressingcarriages below a selected carriage where a selected disk is loweredonto a turntable instead of being raised. Furthermore, embodimentswithout lifter mechanisms wherein a magazine stores disks withsufficient clearance to allow a partially removed disk to be read by adisk reader can be effected. Finally, a disk player without carriages isrealizable wherein disks are transported by means such as belts engagingedges of the disks. Such embodiments are considered to be within thescope and spirit of the present invention.

Returning to FIG. 14, the second speed reduction gear 29 also drives ashuttle gear 23 via a reversing gear 25. The shuttle gear 23 engages arack 68 on a shuttle 28. A shuttle arm 69 protrudes laterally fromshuttle 28. The shuttle 28 is slidably mounted to the right side plate82 by guide members, 22 and 24. The shuttle arm 69 engages the shuttleengagement notch 163 (FIG. 9A) in the selected carriage to transport it.

The shuttle gear 23 has a cam slot 52 which engages a tray lockingmember 150. The tray locking member 150 has a slot 152 through which ashaft 130, upon which the shuttle gear 23 rotates, passes through. Thetray locking member 150 also has a pin 151 which travels in a rightangle slot 49 in the first right rail support member 40. The traylocking member 150 is cammed upward until a tooth 57 at its upper endengages locking notch 65 in the right rail 37' to hold the tray 20 (FIG.13) in the load position.

Referring to FIG. 16, a vertical drive mechanism is mounted on thebottom plate 11 of the main chassis. The vertical drive mechanismincludes a clamp driving mechanism for moving the disk reader assembly200 to and from its clamping position, and a magazine driving mechanismfor moving the magazine 50 via the cam plate assembly 13' of FIG. 12. Adrive motor 231 provides power to drive both assemblies because the diskreader assembly 200 and the magazine 50 are moved at different times.

The drive motor 231 drives a worm gear 111 via a pulley 92 and belt 32.The worm gear 111 drives an associated speed reduction gear 112 which inturn drives an input gear 116 of a planetary gear assembly 100. Theplanetary gear assembly 100 includes a sun gear 100a, two planetarygears 100b, and an annulus gear serving as a second output gear 119. Theinput gear 116 rotates the sun gear 100a of the planetary gear assembly100. A first output gear 117 acts as a cage driven by the planetarygears 100b. The first output gear 117 is coupled via a first speedreducing gear 115 to the rack 17 (FIG. 12) of the cam plate assembly toraise and lower the magazine 50. The second output gear 119 includes atoothed perimeter of the annulus gear that is coupled to a cam gear 110via a second speed reduction gear 114. The cam gear 110 has a cam slot101 which engages a lifting pin 186 (FIG. 7) on the support frame of thedisk reader assembly 200 to pivot the disk reader assembly 200 between aclamped and an unclamped position.

If a first output of planetary gear assembly 100 is locked, rotationalmotion is shifted entirely to a second output and vice versa.

Referring now also to FIG. 29, a shifting member 44 pivots upon shaft127 to select a desired output from the planetary gear assembly 100. Theshifting member 44 has a first arm 61 which engages the lifter plate 43which in turn pivots the shifting member 44 between a first and a secondposition. In a first position, an end of a second arm 62, which iscovered by rubber to increase friction, is forced into contact with thefirst speed reduction gear 115 which in turn locks the first output gear117. Locking the first output gear 117 channels the output of the drivemotor 231 to the second output gear 119 which drives the cam gear 110 toraise and lower the disk reader assembly 200 (FIG. 7) upon the pivotpins 188. Alternatively, the lifter plate 43 moves the first arm 61 intoa second position, rotating it clockwise, which forces a rubber tippedend of a third arm 63 against the second output gear 119 to lock it. Thefirst output gear 117 is then forced to drive the cam plate assembly forraising and lowering the magazine 50.

FIGS. 17-39 illustrate the operation of the present invention bydetailing the states of the above referenced mechanisms when the diskplayer I is in each of the four states of FIGS. 1-4, the ejectionposition, the load position, the playback position, and the storeposition. The mechanisms illustrated include the transport mechanismused to transport both the tray 20 and a selected carriage, the liftermechanism, and the vertical drive mechanism for moving the magazine 50and disk reader assembly 200. The mechanisms in states associated withthe ejection position, illustrated in FIG. 1, are shown in FIGS. 17, 21,and 25. States associated with the load position, illustrated in FIG. 2,are shown in FIGS. 18, 22, and 26. States associated with the playbackposition, depicted in FIG. 3, are shown in FIGS. 19, 23, 27, 33, and 34.And finally, states associated with the store position, of FIG. 4, areshown in FIGS. 20, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 38.

Referring to FIGS. 17-20, the transport mechanism operation is describedbelow wherein the tray 20 is transported from an ejection position to aload position. In FIG. 17, the tray 20 is in the ejection position andthe second speed reduction gear 29 is engaged with the rack 38 of theright rail 37'. The tray locking member 150 is in a lowered positionwith the pin 151 engaging the cam slot 52 at a position near a center ofthe shuttle gear 23. When the motor 230 is driven in a counter-clockwisedirection, the second speed reduction gear 29 is driven clockwise movingthe tray 20 toward the load position. Simultaneously, the shuttle gear23 rotates clockwise and the pin 151 travels through a first advancingportion 66 of the cam slot 52 to a position further from the center ofthe shuttle gear 23 such that the pin 151 approaches a corner of theright angle slot 49 in the first right rail support member 40 (FIG. 14).

Referring now to FIG. 18, the tray 20 has progressed to a position inwhich the second speed reduction gear 29 no longer engages the rack 38because teeth are reduced in height at a tapered end 64 of the rack 38.Since teeth of the second speed reduction gear 29 are in close proximityto the teeth of the rack 38, intermittent contact between the rack 38and the second speed reduction gear 29 is possible due to vibrations. Toavoid such intermittent contact, the tray locking member 150 ispositioned with the tooth 57 in partial engagement with the lockingnotch 65 of the right rail 37' in preparation for moving the rack 38away from the second speed reduction gear 29. The tray locking member150 is moved by a second advancing portion 67 (shown in FIG. 17) of thecam slot 52 to further distance the pin 151 from center of the shuttlegear 23. In FIG. 19, engagement of the tooth 57 in locking notch 65moves the tray 20 into accurate alignment with the load position as thepin 151 advances to an outer periphery of the cam slot 52. The traylocking member urges the rack 38 completely out of engagement with thesecond speed reduction gear 29 with a selected one of the carriages, 58and 59, (not shown) advanced from the tray 20 to the playback positionby the shuttle 28 (not shown) as is described below.

Referring to FIG. 20, the shuttle gear 23 continues to rotate totransport the selected carriage to the store position. The pin 151 ofthe tray locking member 150 is advanced to an end of an outer peripheryof the cam slot 52. The outer periphery of the cam slot 52 permits theshuttle gear 23 to continue to rotate while the tray locking member 150remains in a locking position retaining the tray 20 in the loadposition. Simultaneously, the shuttle 28 transports the selectedcarriage toward the store position.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the tray 20 is shown in the load position inwhich the base carriage 58 and the disk 201 are advanced to the playbackposition. The disk 201 and base carriage 58 overlap the non-selectedstandard carriages 59 and stored disks 201' permitting the compactconstruction of the disk player 1. The optical pick-up 203 moves in adirection parallel to the transport direction of the disk 201 alsofacilitating compact construction. The advantage of retaining the tray20 in the load position while the carriage 58 is advanced to theplayback position is demonstrated by a travel of the optical pick-up 203past the outer perimeter of the disk 201 when the optical pick-up 203 isat a left-most extreme position. If the carriage 58 was not displacedfrom the tray 20 to the playback position, the tray 20 would require aclearance notch for the optical pick-up 203 which would require that thetray 20 be made longer which in turn would result in the tray extendingfurther out from the disk reader assembly 200 in the ejection position.

Referring FIG. 21, the transport mechanism is shown in an ejection statewhere the tray 20 (not shown) is at the ejection position. As discussedabove, the motor 230 drives the shuttle gear 23 which drives the shuttle28 via the rack 68. In the ejection state the shuttle 28 is disengagedfrom the shuttle gear 23 and is carried by the tray 20 where it is heldby the shuttle lock lever 60 shown in FIG. 13.

Referring to FIG. 22, the transport mechanism is advanced to the loadstate. The shuttle 28 is carried by the advance of the tray 20 to aposition where the rack 68 is engaged with the shuttle gear 23. Theshuttle lock lever 60 (FIG. 13) has been rotated to disengage theshuttle 28 so that the shuttle 28 is free to advance with the clockwiserotation of the shuttle gear 23.

Referring now to FIG. 23, the shuttle 28 is further advanced to theplayback position where the selected carriage is withdrawn from the tray20 and positioned above the disk reader assembly 200 by the shuttle arm69 coupled to with the shuttle engagement notch 163 (shown in FIG. 9A)of the selected carriage. Further clockwise rotation of the shuttle gear23 advances the shuttle 28 to the store position wherein the selectedcarriage is placed in the magazine 50 in alignment with the othercarriages, 58 and 59. Once in this position, the magazine transportmechanism can function to raise and lower the magazine 50 to select adisk as is described below.

Referring now to FIG. 24, the limit of travel of shuttle 28 is shown inthe store position. Shuttle gear 23 is rotated clockwise to a positionat which an end portion of the cam slot 52 is closest to the shuttle 28.

Referring to FIGS. 25-28, in the operation of the lifter mechanism, thelifter plate 43 is actuated to lift all carriages above the selectedcarriage in the magazine 50 so that the selected carriage can be movedinto or withdrawn from the magazine 50. In FIGS. 25, 26, and 27, thelifter mechanism is in states associated with the eject, load, andplayback positions. During these states the lifter plate 43 remainsshifted to the right of the figure to a position, as shown in FIG. 37,wherein the carriage lifter 140 is engaged with the wedge-shapedprotrusion 167 of the carriage 59 immediately above the selectedcarriage 59. The carriage lifter 140 lifts the top five of the carriages59 to provide clearance for the insertion or removal of the selectedcarriage. The top five carriages 59 are shown pivoting upon prongs ofthe pronged rack 51 which secures the carriages 59 in the magazine 50.The carriage stopper 141 engages a top portion of the wedge protrusion167 of the base carriage 58 to keep the base carriage 58 in place whilethe selected carriage is withdrawn from the magazine 50. Additionally,the carriage restrainers, 86 and 87, which are mounted on the right sideplate 82, fit into the shuttle engagement notch 163 of the carriages, 58and 59, to retain them in the magazine 50. The lifter plate 43 ismaintained in the extreme right position at all times with the exceptionof when the selected carriage is in the store position. The lifter platepin 45 travels within a concentric portion of the lifter cam slot 72during these states, shown in FIGS. 25-27, retaining lifter plate 43 atthe extreme right position.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the engagement of carriagerestrainers 86 and 87 with shuttle engagement notch 163 could bereplaced by flanges or bosses extending outward from carriages 58 and59, with one or two mating grooves non-movably disposed alongside themagazine 50.

Referring to FIGS. 28 and 38, the lifter plate 43 is shown in the storestate where the lifter plate 43 is shifted to an extreme left positionby the lifter cam slot 72 displacing the lifter plate pin 45 to the leftand disengaging it from the wedge protrusions of the carriages, 58 and59. In FIG. 38, the lifter plate 43 and the selected carriage are shownin the store position. Both the carriage lifter 140 and the carriagestopper 141 are clear of the wedge-shaped protrusions 167 and theshuttle arm 69 is aligned with the carriage restrainers, 86 and 87. Thecarriages, 58 and 59, then can be transported in a directionperpendicular to the disk recording surfaces by the magazine 50 to placea selected one of the carriages, 58 and 59 in alignment for loading orejection.

The functions of transport of the tray 20 from the ejection position tothe load position, the removal of the selected carriage from the tray 20at the load position to the playback and store positions, and thelifting of the carriages 59 are all driven by the same motor 230 in asequential fashion. This permits cost savings to be realized overembodiments employing separate motors for each operation.

Selection of one of the carriages, 58 and 59, is accomplished byvertical movement of the magazine as described above. Additionally, theplaying of disks is accomplished by raising the disk reader assembly 200with the selected disk in the playback position so as to lift theselected disk off the carriage, 58 or 59. Both operations are executedby the vertical drive mechanism discussed above with reference to FIG.16.

Referring now to FIGS. 29-32, the operation of the vertical drivemechanism is illustrated wherein the magazine 50 is transported from aposition selecting the seventh (lowest) disk to one selecting the first(highest) disk in the magazine 50.

In FIG. 29, the vertical drive mechanism is shown with the lifter plate43 in the store position rotating the shifting member 44 clockwise bymeans of the first arm 61 so that the third arm 63 engages the secondoutput gear 119 of the planetary gear assembly 100. With the secondoutput gear 119 locked, the drive force of the motor 231 is transmittedvia the first output gear 117 to the first speed reduction gear 115which drives the rack 17 of the cam plate chassis 13. In FIGS. 29 and30, the cam plate chassis 13 is shown shifted fully to the left of thefigures. In this extreme left position, the magazine 50 is fully raisedby the lower guide pins 88 resting in a top step of stepped cam slots15. The seventh disk is now the selected disk. When the motor 231 isengaged, the cam plate chassis 13 is shifted to the right and is guidedby the guide slots 18 and guide pins 12.

Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, the cam plate chassis 13 is shifted to anextreme right which lowers the magazine to select the first disk in atop one of the carriages 59 as shown in FIG. 32. While transport of themagazine 50 is being effected, the cam gear 110 is rotated so that thelifting pin 186 of the support frame of the disk reader assembly 200 isin a lower portion of the cam slot 101 and the disk reader assembly 200is in a lowered position.

Referring to FIGS. 33-36, the operation of the vertical drive mechanismraising and lowering the disk reader assembly 200 is illustrated.

Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34, the lifter plate 43 is moved to a positionassociated with the eject, load and playback states of operation whereinit provides a clearance between desired ones the carriages, 58 and 59,for the withdrawal or insertion of the selected carriage from or intothe magazine 50. In this position, the lifter plate 43 has rotated theshifting member 44 counter-clockwise so that the second arm 62 locks thefirst speed reduction gear 115 coupled to the planetary gear assembly100. The drive force of the motor 231 is diverted to the second speedreduction gear 114 which drives the cam gear 110.

Referring now to FIGS. 33 and 34, the cam gear 110 is rotated by themotor 231 to a position in which the lifting pin 186 engages a lowerportion of the cam slot 101 and the disk reader assembly 200 is in thelower position.

Referring now to FIGS. 35 and 36, the motor 231 drives the cam gear 110counter-clockwise, while the disk reader assembly 200 is in the playbackstate, engaging the lifting pin 186 with an upper portion of the camslot 101. The turntable 202 of the disk reader assembly 200 is thusraised to engage the disk 201 at the playback position.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention can provide for othertypes of drive switching devices in place of the planetary gear assembly100. One type of drive switching device includes a pivoting gear meshedwith an output of a motor. The pivoting gear is pivoted between twopositions at which it is alternatively meshed with an input gear of amechanism for raising and lowering the disk reader assembly 200 or aninput gear of a mechanism for moving the magazine 50. Similarly, amechanism may be provided for swinging a motor between two positions ofengagement with alternative inputs. It is understood that while theinstant embodiment employs geared drives, friction drive mechanisms mayalso be employed. The details of such mechanisms are omitted as they arerealizable by those skilled in the art having viewed this disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 39, the disk 201 is lifted free of its carriage, 58 or59, and pressed into clamping engagement against the clamp assembly 190.The turntable 202 then rotates the disk 201 while the optical pick-up203 travels from left and right in the figure to read the disk 201. Thedisk 201 is played while overlapping the remaining disks 201' in themagazine 50. The overlapping arrangement presented is made possible bythe clearance provided by the lifter plate 43 as shown in FIG. 37. Theselected disk 201 is released from the disk reader assembly 200 byreversing the operation of the motor 231 thereby lowering the diskreader assembly 200. The selected disk 201 then may be stored or ejectedas discussed above.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention provide for thelowering of the clamp assembly 190 while the selected disk is displaceddownward upon a turntable 202 where the disk reader assembly 200 isfixed in position. Such an embodiment provides for the simultaneouslowering of the selected carriage in a clearance provided by a downwarddisplacement of the disks 201' in a magazine.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with referenceto the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changesand modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for playing back disks comprising:amagazine; a plurality of substantially planar carriages verticallystacked in said magazine; each of said carriages having a support forone of said disks in fixed relation to itself; said magazine holdingsaid carriages substantially parallel with said disks carried on saidcarriages, said disks being held concentrically; means for moving aselected one of said carriages between a playback position outside saidmagazine and a storage position inside said magazine; means for movingsaid magazine relative to said playback position in a second directionperpendicular to a surface of said disks to selectably align saidselected one of said carriages in said magazine with said playbackposition; means for preventing non-aligned ones of said carriages fromshifting, when said selected one of said carriages is aligned with saidplayback position, as a result of a movement of said selected one ofsaid carriages relative to said playback position; said means forpreventing including a longitudinal member in fixed relation to saidplayback position and a forward engagement edge and a rear engagementedge on each of said plurality of carriages; said longitudinal member,said forward engagement edge and said rear engagement edge on each ofsaid plurality of carriages in said magazine being located at arespective side of each of said carriages in said magazine between aforwardmost edge of each of said carriages in said magazine and arearmost edge of each of said carriages in said magazine, saidforwardmost edge substantially facing said playback position and saidrearmost edge being remote from said playback position; saidlongitudinal member having a discontinuity beyond which said forwardengagement edge and said rear engagement edge of said selected one ofsaid carriages passes when said magazine is moved to selectably alignsaid selected one of said carriages in said magazine with said playbackposition, whereby said forward engagement edge and said rear engagementedge of said selected one of said carriages are released from engagementwith said longitudinal member and said forward engagement edge and saidrear engagement edge of at least another of said carriages remainsengaged with said longitudinal member; and said means for moving aselected one of said carriages including an engagement element, movablealong a first direction between a first position and a second position,said forward engagement edge and said rear engagement edge being shapedto allow said engagement element to selectively engage one of saidforward engagement edge and said rear engagement edge and move saidcarriage between said playback position and said storage position whensaid engagement element moves between said first position and saidsecond position, respectively.
 2. Device as in claim 1, wherein:saidforward engagement edge and said rear engagement edge form a notch oneach of said carriages; said discontinuity of said longitudinal memberis an edge of a channel of said longitudinal member for permitting saidselected one of said carriages to be moved therethrough when saidselected one of said carriages is aligned with said playback position;and said longitudinal member has at least one portion adjacent to saidchannel contacting an adjacent carriage adjacent to said selectedcarriage in said playback position to prevent said adjacent carriagefrom shifting by engagement between said notch on said adjacent carriageand said longitudinal member.
 3. Device as in claim 2, furthercomprising:means for lifting forward ends of ones of said carriagesabove said selected carriage to be lifted prior to said shifting; andsaid notches of said carriages being shaped to permit a lifting of saidforward ends by said means for lifting.
 4. Device as in claim 1, furthercomprising:a second longitudinal member; and said longitudinal memberand said second longitudinal member being parallel and spaced apart endto end to define a channel therebetween for permitting said selectedcarriage to be moved when said selected carriage is aligned with saidplayback position.
 5. A device for playing back disks comprising:achassis; a magazine for first and second carriages, each having asupport for a respective one of said disks; a playback position locatedadjacent said magazine on a forward side thereof and in a fixed positionrelative to said chassis; each of said first and second carriages insaid magazine having a forward end adjacent said forward side of saidmagazine and a rear end opposite said forward edge; said magazine beingmovable, relative to said chassis, between a first magazine positionwherein said first carriage is aligned with said playback position and asecond magazine position wherein said second carriage is aligned withsaid playback position; said first carriage including a first notchlocated on a side of said carriage between said forward and rear ends ofsaid first carriage; said second carriage including a second notchlocated on a side of said carriage between said forward and rear ends ofsaid second carriage; a first longitudinal member, located between saidforward and rear ends of said first and second carriages, fixed to saidchassis, engaging said first notch when said magazine is in said secondposition; said first longitudinal member and said first notch beingshaped to prevent said first carriage from shifting in direction whensaid first longitudinal member engages said first notch; a secondlongitudinal member, located between said forward and rear ends of saidfirst and second carriages, fixed to said chassis, engaging said secondnotch when said magazine is in said first position; said secondlongitudinal member and said second notch being shaped to prevent saidsecond carriage from shifting in said direction when said secondlongitudinal member engages said second notch; an engagement element,movable between a first engagement element position and a secondengagement element position, and each of said first notch and saidsecond notch being shaped to engage said engagement element, such thatan aligned one of said first carriage and said second carriage moves insaid direction between said playback position and a storage position insaid magazine when said engagement element moves between said firstengagement element position and said second engagement element position,respectively.
 6. A disk playback device, comprising:a chassis; amagazine housing a first carriage and a second carriage; each one ofsaid first carriage and said second carriage having a support for adisk; said magazine being movable to align one of said first carriageand said second carriage with a playback position on said chassis; analigned one of said first carriage and said second carriage beingslidably removable from a front of said magazine; a side of each of saidfirst carriage and said second carriage, relative to said front of saidmagazine, having a forward carriage engagement edge and a rear carriageengagement edge; said forward carriage engagement edge and said rearcarriage engagement edge being located between a forwardmost edge ofsaid side and a rearmost edge of said side; a first alignment memberengaging one of said forward carriage engagement edge and said rearcarriage engagement edge of said first carriage when said secondcarriage is aligned with said playback position; a second alignmentmember engaging one of said forward carriage engagement edge and saidsecond carriage engagement edge of said second carriage when said firstcarriage is aligned with said playback position; said forward carriageengagement edge and said rear carriage engagement edge being shaped toengage a transport member, such that an aligned one of said firstcarriage and said second carriage moves between a storage position insaid magazine and said playback position when said transport member ismoved between a first position and a second position, respectfully; andsaid forward carriage engagement edge and said rear carriage engagementedge forming one of a notch and a boss and each of said first alignmentmember and said second alignment member being the other of said notchand said boss.
 7. A disk playback device, comprising:a chassis; amagazine movably mounted on said chassis; said magazine having a firstcarriage and a second carriage for holding a first disk and a seconddisk, respectively; said magazine being movable relative to a playbackposition on said chassis to align one of one of said first carriage andsaid second carriage with said playback position; an aligned one of saidfirst carriage and said second carriage being slidably removable in afirst direction through a front of said magazine; each of said firstcarriage and said second carriage having an engagement notch along itsside; a first alignment member engaging said engagement notch of saidfirst carriage when said second carriage is aligned with said playbackposition; a second alignment member engaging said engagement notch ofsaid second carriage when said first carriage is aligned with saidplayback position; a transport element movable in said first directionbetween a first position and a second position; said engagement notchbeing shaped to engage said transport element; and said transportelement located on said chassis such that an aligned one of said firstcarriage and said second carriage is moved by said transport elementbetween a storage position in said magazine and said playback positionwhen said transport element moves between said first position and saidsecond position.